Training camp starts this Wednesday for the New Jersey Devils. Well, only for the “rookies,” but not by the definition you may think. This post goes over the rules in the NHL CBA regarding NHL training camps and preseason games. Which explains why October 3 is a bit of a sticking point.
This week begins training camp for the New Jersey Devils. Well, only for some of the New Jersey Devils. Specifically, the non-veterans. They will report on September 11. They will get prepared for the Prospects Challenge games in Buffalo that will take place on September 13, September 14, and September 16. The veterans will report to camp on September 18. The Devils preseason will begin at the Rock on September 22 when they host the Islanders. Hockey is returning.
This is as good of a time as any to understand how training camp and preseason games works. Who are the “rookies” reporting this week and why is “rookie” in quotes anyway? The Devils have their final preseason game on October 3 in Philadelphia, and their first regular season game is the next day all the way in Czechia. How will that work? Who should I expect to see if I attend a preseason game? The rules surrounding both will help us answer those questions and more.
Who Shows Up When and Why?
There is an entire article devoted to training camp and exhibition games (read: preseason games) along with travel expenses in the NHL Contract Bargaining Agreement with the NHLPA. Article 15 has it all. The travel expenses in its title is right at the start – Article 15.1 – and it covers travel from summer residence to training camp and/or their team’s city. Article 15.2 discusses accommodations and meals. Article 15.3 is where the rules begin for camp is run and organized.
Article 15.3 states in subsection (a) that “The duration of Training Camp for all Players who have qualified during the preceding Regular Season for at least 50 games credit for Pension Plan purposes shall not be more than 20 days, and shall not be more than 27 days for all other Players.” This is why there are two start dates for camp and why they are seven days about. This is also what determines who is to report at each camp. The requirement of “50 games credit for Pension Plan purposes” begs another question. Why games credit for the pension plan and not just games played?
Article 21.14 for Credited Service for the NHLPA’s pension plan answers this and it helps explain why call-ups and demotions for players who do not play does have some financial benefit for the player beyond their salary. The text is as follows:
“Following the Retirement Plan Effective Date, a Player shall be credited for all NHL Regular Season Games for which he is on the Active Roster, Injured Reserve List, Injured Non-Roster, or has been designated Non-Roster. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Player on the Injured Non-Roster or designated Non-Roster shall be credited with games only if he becomes eligible to participate in the Retirement Plan pursuant to Section 21.13. A Player who is Traded or claimed on Waivers during the Regular Season will be credited with any games missed due to a Trade or Waiver claim. A Player may not receive credit for more than 82 Regular Season Games in one season.”
21.13 explains the eligibility for the pension plan and all we need to know from that is that effective date is that for a skater, it is the date of his first NHL game played; and for a goalie, it is the date of his first NHL game dressed. Backups count even if they do not see the ice. Knowing that and the above, this means any player who is scratched, on IR, on LTIR, on SOIR is adding games credited towards this plan. Once they reach 50, they report to the “veterans” camp per Article 15.3. It does not necessarily mean 50 games played in a season. Just 50 games where they were a part of a team’s roster. It also does not necessarily mean that the players reporting to the “rookie” camp are rookies per the definition you and I may use. Likewise, you may have players who are still feasibly eligible for the Calder reporting as a “veteran” next week.
What this means for the New Jersey Devils is that most of the players reporting this week are players new to this level of hockey and those who have been down in Utica (and Adirondack) with minimal time spent in New Jersey under any circumstance. This is why the teams in the Prospects Challenge have more than just developing prospects on their rosters. They report in ahead of the players who have been on a NHL roster for over half of a season’s worth of games.
There are some additional requirements in the rest of Article 15.3 that govern how camp works. Subsection (b) allows players who have 50 games credit towards their pension plan from last season to voluntarily receive medicals or physicals prior to training camp. If you see some Devils around the Prudential Center and the connected RWJ Barnabas Hockey House, then that may be why.
Subsection (c) is why nothing really happens on the first day of training camp. That subsection limits the first day’s activities to medicals, fitness testing, player and team photos (like the ones you see on the site, in game, etc.). That same section limits the time spent on and off the ice in the first four days of camp except when there is a game. Those limits do not apply to those playing in an exhibition game. Which partially explains why the first preseason game is held four days after the “veterans” camp opens. The other part is Article 15.4 subsection (a), explained in a bit.
Subsection (d) of Article 15.3 mandates days off for players attending camp. Specifically, two days during camp; one in each half of camp. So if you see a player not at practice or not taking drills, then this would likely be why.
Preseason Games and the Veteran Rule
Preseason games are defined as exhibition games in the NHL CBA and Article 15.4 sets the requirements around it. Subsection (a) states that no player will play in a game following three consecutive dates where they played in an exhibition game during the training camp. It also says that no player shall play in an exhibition game scheduled during the first three days of camp. This alone requires teams to rotate players and manage their rosters. It also forces the schedule of preseason games.
Subsection (b) of 15.4 states that no team shall schedule fewer than six games and more than eight games. This is why preseason schedules are six to eight games. The CBA requires it.
Subsection (c) of Article 15.4 requires teams to dress at least eight veterans for an exhibition games. This means if you attend a preseason game, you will see some actual NHL players in it. Even for that first one on September 22. This subsection also defines who is considered a “veteran.” Let us walk through each of those aspects.
- 15.4(c)(1): “A forward or defensemen who played in thirty (30) NHL games during the previous season.” – This would include most of last season’s roster. As well as Kurtis MacDermid (29 games with Colorado before 16 with New Jersey) and Nick DeSimone (23 games with Calgary before 11 with New Jersey). Incoming Devils Brett Pesce, Tomas Tatar, Stefan Noesen, Brenden Dillon, Johnathan Kovacevic, and Paul Cotter also fit this definition immediately. Among those who do not: Dougie Hamilton, Santeri Hatakka, Max Willman, Adam Beckman, Justin Dowling, Brian Halonen, Shane Bowers, Sam Laberge, Colton White, and Nolan Foote. Hamilton will be covered by another requirement shortly. PTO defenseman Jakub Zboril also does not fit this requirement; he was in the AHL all last season.
- 15.4(c)(2): “A goaltender who dressed in fifty (50) or more NHL games or played in thirty (30) NHL games in the previous season.” – Jakob Markstrom (48 NHL GP last season) and Jake Allen (21 with Montreal and 13 with New Jersey) easily cover this requirement. Nico Daws does not with 21 GP last season and, unless I am mistaken, he did not dress for 50 games given his callups were centered around whether he could play. The PTO goaltender Michael Hutchinson also does not qualify with his 1 NHL game played last season and being fourth on the depth chart in Detroit meant he likely did not dress for 49-plus games as a backup.
- 15.4(c)(3): “A first round draft choice from the most recent year’s NHL Entry Draft.” – Interesting! An 18-year old with no NHL games played counts as a veteran if picked in the first round and appears in a preseason game! Anton Silayev is currently playing with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the KHL, so he will not play.
- 15.4(c)(4): “Any player who has played one-hundred (100) or more career NHL Games” – Hamilton is covered under this as a veteran. As is Justin Dowling, who is at exactly 100 games with two appearances last season. PTO goalie Hutchinson also has 154 games played too. Zboril, on the other hand, does not. His injury-riddled career has kept him to 76 NHL games.
In summary, if you are attending a preseason game this year for the Devils, you will see at least eight of the following 24 players:
Forwards (14): Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, Erik Haula, Dawson Mercer (when signed), Ondrej Palat, Curtis Lazar, Nathan Bastian, Stefan Noesen, Paul Cotter, Tomas Tatar, Kurtis MacDermid, Justin Dowling
Defensemen (8): Hamilton, Luke Hughes, Simon Nemec, Pesce, Dillon, Jonas Siegenthaler, DeSimone, Kovacevic
Goalies (3): Markstrom, Allen, Hutchinson (PTO)
So What About October 3 in Philly?
Even with knowing the Devils have more than enough veterans to cycle players in and out throughout their preseason, most of the above list should be on the plane to Czechia before the puck even drops in Philadelphia for their season opener on October 4. Yet, the CBA mandates eight of those twenty-four players to play in that game in Philly on October 3. At a glance, I would guess that Dowling, MacDermid, Hutchinson, and one of DeSimone and Kovacevic will play in Philly. The regular season opener is a back-to-back set so I would not go there with just six defensemen. I would only keep DeSimone and Kovacevic in America if someone like Santeri Hatakka steps up in camp and preseason play to warrant being a #7 for a few days. Which may happen, actually. Even so, that is just five players. Eight is the requirement.
This is also why I am not a huge fan of the Zboril PTO. If he met the veteran requirement, then it would make a lot more sense and I would understand it. But he does not. And he can only play in the regular season if he has a contract. He would have to be really impressive to break ahead of Kovacevic, DeSimone, Hatakka, and the rest. He may have the talent but the 27-year old has been so riddled with injuries that he may not be an actual NHL player. That may be good for Utica but that does not help address the veteran requirement on October 3.
Why not just leave more veterans home? Because they may be useful to the Devils in Czechia for that back-to-back in Buffalo. The Devils indeed need a fast start to their season. Not to mention that being kept out of two NHL games (and for those on a two-way deal, at least two days of a NHL salary) may not be appreciated by the player. Granted, if a player performs poorly enough in the other preseason games, then it makes sense to keep them from Czechia. For those fighting to keep a roster spot – I am looking at you, Nathan Bastian – this is an incentive to work real hard in late September. Even so, finding three or four (or five?) players to fit this is going to be a stretch. That is even assuming my guess aligns with what the Devils may think.
Can the NHL and NHLPA allow an exception? Maybe. Right at the end of 15.4(c) is this: “The matter of Player participation in Exhibition Games shall be referred to the NHL/NHLPA Competition Committee for its consideration and recommendations, if any, in accordance with Article 22.” Article 22 is about what the Competition Committee does. Under Article 22.1 subsection (4) and (5) does state that the committee can consider issues related to “…the scheduling of games played outside of a team’s home arena…” (4, applies to New Jersey) as well as “schedule, compression and start times for games.” (5). My interpretation is that they could hear the argument out to loosen the rule, allowing more veteran players to travel to play in the NHL instead of a preseason game. But that is not a guarantee that they will, much less grant a change to 15.4(c) for that one game.
To that end, do not be shocked if you see the Devils bring in more players on a PTO with a 100 NHL games or more in their history.
Your Take
The rest of Article 15 is interesting in how it describes how to handle the payment to players injured in camp (15.6), obtaining a residence (15.7), conditioning camps (15.10 – think prospect development camp in July), and absences from camp (15.13). Article 15.8 has an interesting wrinkle for Utica and other AHL teams: 50-game players shall be placed on waivers before they play in an AHL exhibition game. Incidentally, there are not many AHL exhibition games. Utica has just one, right on September 4.
In the meantime, the CBA lays out the requirements for the camp that begins this week for some, why most of the significant names on the roster will not be there this week, and why the preseason games require some actual NHL players to participate (and those limits). What will happen on October 3 remains obscure to me about how the Devils will handle it with respect to the veteran requirement. Perhaps there will be further clarity when that game gets closer. Please leave your thoughts about camp coming up, the rules surrounding them as well as the preseason, and who you expect to play in Philly on October 3 in the comments. Thank you for reading.